IN THE FINAL MOMENT

Elara was completely shattered. She knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, yet Nathaniel’s words pierced her heart like daggers. She felt utterly alone, with no one to turn to for support. She sank onto the sofa and sobbed, weighed down by the gravity of the situation.

But then she remembered something—she was pregnant too. She had to set aside her own pain and go to the hospital to make sure her child was safe. Wiping away her tears, she forced herself to stand and left the house.

When she arrived at the hospital, she overheard Nathaniel and Brando talking in the hallway. She froze, her heart pounding as she tried to catch every word.

“Stop worrying about my problems,” Nathaniel’s voice carried a hint of irritation. It was clear Brando was concerned and kept pressing him, which only seemed to annoy Nathaniel more.

“Why don’t you just leave Elara?” Brando asked. “If it’s going to be like this, wouldn’t it be better to just separate?”

Nathaniel sighed. “I can’t do that… not yet.”

Elara’s heart sank. What did he mean by not yet?

Nathaniel hesitated, but Brando’s persistent questioning forced him to answer. “I have plans. Ever since I married her, what’s mine is hers too. If we divorce, everything I have will be split. I stand to lose more if she’s gone.”

Elara was stunned, filled with deep shame and betrayal. Now she understood— their marriage had only ever been a deal, a transaction. She couldn’t believe how blind she had been to all of this.

A surge of anger boiled up from her chest. Was their union really worth so little? Money? She couldn’t believe it. She had thought there was still some value in their bond, something money could never replace.

Maybe it was time. Maybe it was time to truly end this.

Instead of confronting Nathaniel and Brando, she decided to go straight to Shaira. She had no intention of arguing with her husband.

As she walked toward Shaira’s room, her mind was still in turmoil. But when she saw Shaira, for a moment, she forgot her own pain. Shaira was enraged, throwing objects at anyone nearby.

“Elara!” Shaira screamed upon seeing her. “You did this! You killed my child!”

Startled, Elara immediately crossed her arms over her stomach in defense. At the same time, a hard object flew toward her. A glass shattered against her head, sending sharp pain throughout her body.

Elara felt the ache in her heart as she watched Shaira’s extreme grief. She knew she hadn’t caused the loss of the baby, but she didn’t know how to make Shaira understand. She tried to calm her, but Shaira refused to listen.

“What are you doing?!” Elara shouted as she saw Shaira grab a vase, ready to throw it.

Just then, Brando arrived and stepped between them, shielding Elara from Shaira’s rage.

“Calm down, Shaira,” Brando said firmly but gently. “It’s not her fault.”

Soon after, Nathaniel arrived and hugged Shaira, putting himself between her and Elara, showing clearly where his loyalties lay.

Elara’s heart broke even further. To anyone watching, it seemed as if Shaira was Nathaniel’s wife—not her.

A bitter smile appeared on her lips.

“What did you do?! I told you to apologize, not make her angrier!” Nathaniel shouted, full of anger.

Tears welled in Elara’s eyes.

“I already told you, I didn’t push her! She tried to hurt me, forcing me to break up with you and leave. She came at me first, so I avoided her!” she shouted, unable to contain her emotions any longer.

At the same time, the earlier conversation she had overheard between Nathaniel and Brando—the one about divorce—returned to her mind, fueling her anger even more.

“Be quiet! You killed my child! You did it out of spite! You didn’t want me here!” Shaira laughed loudly, almost deranged. “You’re always angry at me when Nathan isn’t around!”

Nathaniel’s expression darkened at her words, but instead of being angry at Shaira, Elara felt as if he was blaming her.

Elara could only laugh—she couldn’t believe how absurd this situation had become.

She couldn’t believe how deceitful Shaira was.

“That’s enough! Get out of this room if you can’t admit your mistakes, Elara! I’m so disappointed in you!”

Elara’s breathing faltered, the pain wrapping around her like a vise. She was left alone with her thoughts, feeling numb, as if her connection to the world had been severed.

It all felt like a nightmare. She couldn’t fathom that the man she loved—the man she had built a company and dreams with—could betray her in this way. She replayed every time she had defended him, every sacrifice she had made, and her stomach tightened with resentment.

She had given everything for Nathaniel.

“No matter what I say, you still won’t believe me, will you?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Nathaniel was taken aback by the tone. He could feel the hurt in her voice, yet there seemed to be a fire igniting within her.

Their eyes met, and he saw the deep disappointment in her gaze.

“All this time you made me out to have a cold heart, so it was easy for you to believe I could hurt someone else. You didn’t even ask my side. You just took her side,” Elara said, every word heavy with meaning.

“Because she’s a liar!” Shaira shouted. “Don’t listen to her, Nathan! Look what she did to me! She killed my child!”

Shaira cried again, clinging tightly to Nathaniel’s arm, refusing to let go. Nathaniel was briefly confused by her actions, but Elara didn’t miss a single moment.

It fueled her anger even more.

Everything had become too much for Elara. She was carrying a child too, yet the father of her child chose to protect another woman.

She didn’t know what had come over her, but for the first time, she wanted to claim what was rightfully hers.

The entire room was tense. The air felt heavy. Elara stood there, fists tightly clenched, struggling to restrain her emotions. Nathaniel was beside Shaira, his full attention fixed only on the other woman.

Elara’s fingers trembled slightly as she took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to say.

“Let go of him,” Elara said suddenly, her voice cold.

Nathaniel and Shaira both turned to look at her.

Meanwhile, Brando—longtime friend of Nathaniel—had always seen Elara as someone strong. He knew why they were married, and if he were honest, he admired her for staying by Nathaniel. Despite everything, he knew Elara loved his friend, though Nathaniel had never truly noticed.

But now, Brando saw a different Elara.

“Let go of him and come with me. I need you,” she said firmly, never breaking eye contact with Nathaniel, hoping he would understand how serious she was.

“Stop this madness, Elara. Just leave if you’re not going to apologize. I have to stay with Shaira.”

“I need to talk to you,” Elara insisted.

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, annoyance visible on his face. “Can’t it wait? Shaira needs me right now.”

The world seemed to collapse around Elara at his words. The way he dismissed her, the way he valued Shaira over her—it reminded her where she stood in Nathaniel’s life: far from his heart. But she needed to tell him about her pregnancy before the pain and loneliness consumed her completely.

“This can’t wait, Nathan. Please,” her voice nearly pleading.

And in an instant, he responded coldly. “I said we’re not discussing this now. Just leave. You’re not helping the situation.”

Elara clenched her jaw, holding back her emotions. It was too much.

“I thought we were a team, Nathan. I thought we’d face everything together,” her voice weak but full of pain.

Nathaniel’s expression hardened, his face like stone. “Shaira is my priority right now. I can’t ignore her for this.”

Her world crumbled at his words. Her fears were confirmed—she had given everything, yet she could never hold Nathaniel’s heart. His connection with Shaira was stronger than anything they had.

Her heart filled with pain and anger. She had avoided facing this truth for so long, but now, she had no choice.

“Then let’s end this. I can’t take it anymore, Nathan,” her voice trembling with a mix of pain and determination. “I gave everything, but it was never enough. There’s nothing left for us.”

Nathaniel’s eyes widened, the cold mask momentarily slipping.

“We’re done, Nathan,” Elara’s voice was firmer now. “I’ll file for divorce, and you don’t have to worry about your money. Not a single cent will I take. You don’t have to worry about the company either. It’s all yours.”

Nathaniel’s expression shifted—from shock to awe and deep realization. He realized there were more secrets he had kept than she had imagined. Every conversation he had with Brando came rushing back to her memory.

She didn’t look back.

As she walked alone down the hospital corridor, tears streamed down her cheeks. She picked up her phone and called her older sibling.

“Elara?” her sibling’s voice sounded surprised on the other end.

Alone, heartbroken, Elara sat in a corner of the hospital, sobbing over the illusions that had crumbled completely.

“Can you come get me?” she asked quietly.

And her sibling, even without knowing what had happened, immediately left an important meeting, ready to drop everything for her.

BEHIND THE EMPIRE NAME

Elara stared quietly out the window as they drove, her mind focused on one thing—getting away, forgetting everything, and starting over.

She could never forget how Nathan had chosen to abandon her, despite her being his wife. He had sided with Shaira—who was pregnant, and whose child she didn’t even know the real father of. She didn’t want to dwell on it anymore, but the way Shaira acted made her feel there was a secret between the two of them. Could it be true that Shaira was hiding a relationship behind her back?

Tears fell. Elara wasn’t the type to cry easily, but maybe because she was pregnant, she couldn’t hold back her emotions. The pain from what had happened earlier only intensified.

She was hurt. Betrayed. Angry.

She wanted revenge, but not in a way that kept her tied to them—especially Nathan. The best way to get back at them was to show that she no longer needed them. She could rise, fight, and build a new life without them.

“Here,” her sister said suddenly, handing her a handkerchief.

Elara glanced at it but kept her eyes straight ahead as her sister looked at her.

“I never liked that man from the moment you first told me about him,” her sister said coldly, full of anger.

Elara took the handkerchief and quickly wiped her tears. Her sister gave her a quick glance before speaking again.

“You’re not crying just over a man, Elara. Tell me… are you pregnant?”

Elara’s breath almost caught. She couldn’t bring herself to look at her sister, her teeth clenched tightly in anger.

Yes. She was pregnant. And the father of her child… shamelessly chose another woman over her.

Tears streamed down Elara’s face even more, frustrating her because she couldn’t stop them. She wasn’t the type to cry easily, especially in front of others. She knew she had to let herself feel the pain fully just to release her emotions. Ever since then, she had trained herself to be strong, which was why she often came across as cold and indifferent—just as Nathan had said.

“I’m divorcing him,” she said softly, yet firmly. “Tell Glenda to contact our family lawyer. I want her to handle my divorce and make sure I don’t take anything from him. Just give my instructions to the lawyer—I’m giving all my shares to Nathan. I want the divorce papers on his desk by tomorrow morning before I leave.”

Her sister looked at her, studying her expression. “Glenda will make sure he signs it… but do you really think he will?”

“He would,” Elara answered without hesitation. “He’s wanted to leave me for a long time. The only thing holding him back is my share in the company. He wants to take everything, so I’ll give it to him completely… just to keep him quiet.”

Her tone was firm, yet she couldn’t stop the tears from falling as she stared out the window.

“You are an heiress, Elara. You don’t need that small amount. Doesn’t Nathan know that you come from an extremely wealthy family? Could that be why the company he built continues to earn so much? Because most of his clients are actually connected to us?”

Elara remained silent. She didn’t want to accept the truth—that she had been living under the illusion that Nathan’s success was entirely his own doing. But it wasn’t. There was an invisible string pulling behind the scenes, making everything easier for Nathan—and she hadn’t even noticed it before.

Her sister chuckled softly, but the tone carried insult and disappointment.

“Ah, so the bastard doesn’t know?” her sister continued. “Because if he did, he wouldn’t leave you, Elara. You’re the greatest wealth he could ever have. You’re a Lhuillier.”

For the long years she had been with Nathan, Elara had used her mother’s surname to hide her true identity as a Lhuillier. Their family was a huge name. No one in the country didn’t know of them—business tycoons in the making.

Her father was one of the most powerful businessmen—feared and respected in the industry. Simply mentioning his name could sway a negotiation. No sane and prudent entrepreneur would want the Lhuilliers as an enemy, since nearly everyone had ties to their empire. That was why her family chose to live quietly and away from the public eye, protecting both their security and power.

“You were blinded by your love for that man, which is why you willingly gave everything to him,” her sister said, a mixture of regret and disappointment in her voice.

Elara wiped her tears. She suddenly realized how foolish she had been to think that the day would come when Nathan would learn to love her too—that their marriage, which began as a business agreement, would eventually become real. But she had been wrong.

“He deceived me secretly. No—he never loved me,” she said firmly, her eyes dark with emotion. “He betrayed me and slept with a woman who had the audacity to accuse me of causing the loss of her child.”

Blood rushed through Elara again as she remembered all the deceit she had endured. But now that she knew the truth, she would no longer be fooled.

“Hmm… Shaira again? Do you know why Nathan liked her? Because her father has influence in the business world. Well, honestly, he’s nothing compared to our father—even compared to the part you manage—but Nathan probably thought it was a jackpot to be with Shaira, Elara.”

Elara glanced at her sister, eyebrows slightly furrowing. “Are you digging for information about her?”

“Just curious, since she’s been bothering you all this time, right?” her sister smiled briefly.

Elara sighed. She knew their family had its own surveillance team quietly watching over them and reporting what was happening to ensure everything ran smoothly.

“Glenda, can I just assume you’re the one providing the information?” she asked, returning her gaze to the window.

“Sort of. In exchange for letting them know where I am.” She chuckled lightly.

Unlike Elara, her sister was mischievous and rebellious. Their own security team always had a hard time tracking her down because of her skill at avoiding cameras and disguising herself as someone else. It was almost like a game to her—escaping the guards was something she did whenever she got bored and just wanted to party unnoticed.

Elara, on the other hand, was her complete opposite. She preferred to do everything properly, which made her the favorite—less of a headache. But now that she was pregnant, it felt like she herself was the cause of her headaches.

“You’d better leave the country without a trace of that bastard. It’s what your baby needs if you plan to keep this hidden,” her sister said.

Elara silently stared at the city lights until her sister parked the car. Upon entering the Lhuillier residence—the largest mansion in the country, owned by their father, Jefferson Lhuillier—the security immediately opened the doors.

They stepped inside, and the staff bowed their heads as they lined up along the sides. A few personnel followed behind them.

Glenda, the head of the family’s security system and the person responsible for executing all plans, walked toward them.

“We need to talk, Elara,” she said.

Elara didn’t want to discuss what had happened, but she knew it was better to inform Glenda of her plans to ensure they would be carried out.

She immediately instructed a maid to gather and pack all her belongings. Then she walked to the garden for some fresh air, while her sister went to the swimming pool.

Soon, Glenda placed a bottle of champagne in front of her and poured her favorite drink, shaking her head.

“I can’t drink. I’m pregnant,” Elara said plainly.

“I know. I’m just confirming if you’d admit it to me.” Glenda smiled and took the glass before discarding the champagne.

Elara smiled. Glenda had known their habits for a long time—over a decade of working for their family. She had been part of their lives since Elara’s parents planned the marriage, watching her grow up.

“What’s your plan?” Glenda asked.

“Prepare the private jet for tomorrow. I’m flying to the U.S.—France. I want a quiet place there, so make sure you can locate me by tonight. Also, Shiela will tell you the rest of the plan, so make sure it’s executed properly.”

“Divorce from Nathaniel Anderson?” Glenda concluded.

Elara wasn’t surprised that Glenda already knew about her plan. She knew Glenda controlled the security system and monitored them twenty-four hours a day. She had probably noticed her crying outside the hospital.

“Leave it to me. By tomorrow morning, I’ll make sure he signs it. That’s all you want, right?” Glenda confirmed.

“Besides that, make sure I don’t get a single cent from him. But at the same time, he must agree not to bother me or contact me as if there’s still a connection between us. That will be the exchange,” Elara replied firmly.

She had finished playing the martyr. She had stopped lowering herself, hoping Nathan would choose her. But he didn’t. She was wrong.

Nathan had disrespected her personally. He chose to defend Shaira rather than uphold his role as her husband. And now it was clear—he never truly considered her a real partner. She was just a business partner, a strategy to keep the company he built intact.

“That’s easy,” Glenda said meaningfully. “Someone blinded by power will seize any opportunity to push themselves upward—even if only temporarily.”

Elara knew how Glenda handled things. She was an expert in maintaining their family’s image. Any problem that might arise was immediately resolved. Anyone who tried to bring them down got nowhere.

She was in the bathroom, unable to sleep for even a moment. All her belongings were packed. Lying in the bathtub, she stared at the ceiling, thinking about how suddenly her world had collapsed in an instant.

Shaira had turned her life into a nightmare. Nathan not only betrayed her—choosing another woman over her—but also accused her of being responsible for Shaira’s child’s loss.

She had thought giving Nathan the benefit of the doubt would help maintain their relationship. But she had been wrong.

Not only had she not seen Shaira’s messages—Shaira herself had admitted to the relationship with Nathan. And how could she not believe it? Nathan had chosen Shaira over her, the legitimate wife.

Even worse, she heard it directly from Nathan that all that mattered was business, and their separation could affect the company if she took her share. Nathan didn’t love her as a wife. She was merely an obstacle to be removed.

She let Glenda handle the divorce. She didn’t hesitate anymore. She couldn’t gamble her child’s future on a man who had left her for another woman. She promised herself—she would raise her child alone. She wouldn’t ask Nathan for help. She didn’t need him to know they had a child.

And she knew her child didn’t deserve such a father—a man who abandoned his wife and family for his own selfishness.

She had no intention of telling Nathan about the baby. They would never meet again. She would start a new life—a life Nathan could never reach.

And most importantly, there was one person she needed to deal with—the woman, that cunning monkey who shamelessly destroyed her life.

She swallowed her anger. She didn’t want to see Shaira again. Because if she did, she might not be able to stop herself from stepping on her until she disappeared from the world.

“Would you like something to drink, Miss Elara?” asked the stewardess of the private jet. She simply stared out the window, silently watching the clouds.

“A champagne… no, just juice,” she quickly changed her order when she remembered she was pregnant.

“Of course, ma’am.”

She sighed. Her heart still ached.

For the first time, she cried for a man she loved, a man she trusted, and a man who had turned away from her. She knew she had been dramatic—something she didn’t normally do.

She looked down at her belly and gently caressed it.

“You?” she whispered softly. “Did you play with my hormones so I’d beg your dad to choose us?”

Nathan’s betrayal had been excruciating. He had left her without hesitation. He had chosen Shaira.

“But don’t worry,” she whispered, stroking her belly. “You don’t need him. You have all the wealth with me to live. Even if you grow up, I’ll give you a luxurious life.”

She gave a faint smile, even with the ache in her heart.

“Do you know my little secret?” she whispered to her child. “When you come into this world, you’ll carry my surname. I won’t let you use that man’s name—a man who didn’t even choose us.”

“Am I not worthy of his love?” she whispered to herself. “Why can’t I understand? Everything I did… meant nothing to him?”

Those questions kept replaying in her mind, yet she could find no answer. The painful truth dug deep into her heart—a wound she didn’t know when it would heal.

She wanted to escape. Since the very first day, she had dreamed of living in Paris, France—a place where she could be truly free.

She had her own unit in the sixteenth arrondissement, one of the most luxurious districts in all of Paris. A place where the ghosts of her past couldn’t catch her. There she wanted to start over.

And now that Nathan was out of her life, nothing could stop her.

Elara had never found it difficult to adapt to a new place. Throughout her life, she was used to being alone, roaming wherever she wanted, and making decisions without relying on anyone. She had everything she needed, and money had never been an issue—ever since she was born a Lhuillier.

Now, she lived quietly in Paris. Far from the noise of the U.S. city where she left all the pain and memories behind. She was accompanied by Anna, her loyal maid, who became even more attentive once she learned she was pregnant. There was also a driver always ready to take her anywhere, and of course, the secret guards watching her whenever she went out.

She hadn’t yet told her entire family about her condition. But now that she was five months along, she couldn’t hide it for long.

And it seemed someone had noticed.

One day, upon opening the door, Mera appeared, carrying a basket of fruits. Her eyes widened, and as her jaw dropped, they moved to Elara’s belly.

“It’s true…” she whispered, clearly in disbelief.

Elara sighed. Most likely, Shiela had informed her. She had probably come to Paris to confirm the suspicion.

Without announcing herself, Mera entered the house, glancing around.

“Hmm… very minimalist,” she remarked, examining the spacious and elegant interior. The colors—dirty white and beige—gave a calm ambiance that matched Elara’s quiet life.

Elara stood silently to the side, waiting for her friend to speak further.

She instructed the maid to prepare a snack for Mera while the friend got comfortable on the sofa, watching a runway show on TV and nibbling on pizza.

Mera handed the fruit basket to the maid before approaching Elara and sitting beside her. She couldn’t stop staring at her rounded belly.

“Wow. You look beautiful with your pregnancy,” she commented. “You’re glowing. And you’ve gained a little weight too.”

Elara rolled her eyes. “So, in short, I’m fat?”

Mera laughed. “Your belly is big now! And don’t worry about your weight, Elara. You’re pregnant. It’s fine. You don’t need to maintain your image—oh wait. You’re not posting on social media about yourself anymore anyway.”

Elara just sighed and bit into the pizza again.

“I’m not thinking about my weight,” she muttered, sounding disinterested.

Meanwhile, Mera licked her lips, eyeing the pizza hungrily. She was about to take a slice when Elara suddenly swatted her hand.

“Hey! Don’t eat the pregnant lady’s food. This is mine,” she snapped. “Order your own.”

Mera gaped. “Wow, is this really how you treat your guests?”

Elara just smiled before taking another bite of pizza, no longer willing to argue.

“You know, I didn’t exactly invite you here, Mera.”

Mera laughed and shook her head. “Oh, this little one is being dramatic again. Don’t be like that, or your baby will inherit all your stubbornness and mischief.”

Elara paused and thought. “Ah, okay! It’s actually cute if the baby inherits a little of you. I just don’t want to see any trace of…”

She winced and didn’t finish the sentence. “Hmp! He doesn’t deserve to be duplicated.”

Elara remained silent, though Nathan’s face still crossed her mind.

Mera noticed the sudden change in her expression and immediately warned, “If I ever find out that abnormal guy comes back into your life…”

Elara rolled her eyes. “Relax. He’s living happily with his so-called first love. I don’t care about them anymore.”

“Good. Don’t talk about him. You might just ruin your day.”

A Princess and a Queen

Mera was Elara's constant companion throughout her pregnancy-and even during childbirth, Mera was by her side. That night, she gave birth to a baby girl whom she named Nathara. Even though she wanted to erase Nathan from their lives, and despite the child not bearing his surname, Elara still wanted her daughter to have some connection to her father. The first syllable, "Natha," came from Nathan, and "ra" from the last syllable of her own name. She had been hurt, and she knew their relationship was full of bad memories. But for some inexplicable reason, a part of her felt that a connection between her daughter and her father should remain-even if Nathan didn't even know about her.

"I think heaven really answered my prayers-Elara's child inherited everything from her. She literally has a baby girl," Mera said joyfully, carefully holding the infant.

It wasn't just Mera there, but the entire Lhuillier family. They rushed to her private hospital room after she gave birth. Mera handed the sleeping baby to Mr. Lhuillier, who smiled slightly as he looked at his granddaughter.

"My little angel," he murmured softly.

"She looks like Elara, sweetheart," said Mrs. Lhuillier with a tender smile, gazing at the baby. "Oh, it reminds me of her when she was a baby."

"So the little Lhuillier brat will finally have her own child," Louesi commented.

Mera laughed. "Oh, Elara wasn't that spoiled of a brat compared to Shiela," she replied jokingly.

"Shut up, asshole. You only found out she had a child because of me," Shiela retorted irritably.

Elara was amazed as she watched her family warmly welcome her daughter-without a trace of abandonment, unlike what Nathan had done to her when she was pregnant.

"Are you planning to stay longer here in Paris, Elara?" Mr. Lhuillier asked as Shiela gently lifted the sleeping Nathara into her arms.

Elara watched as Shiela approached Louesi, who immediately went to see his niece. She was amazed-the coldhearted Louesi seemed to melt in front of the baby.

"I'm enjoying my time here in Paris, Dad," Elara replied.

She remembered the real estate business she'd started-all driven by her desire to build a new life. But now that Nathan was out of her mind, she started thinking of other things.

"Maybe I'll be interested in joining the family business when Nathara is four or five. Maybe I'll start working then," she said.

Louesi and Mera looked at her, both taken aback. Finally, Elara was thinking about the family business. Elara had never been pressured to take on any position in the company because she was the youngest. She could live in luxury without lifting a finger. But now...

"Well, that's good to hear! You'd have a good position in the company," Mr. Lhuillier said enthusiastically before turning to his wife, who was also smiling.

"Take your time. You should be resting for now. Just focus on your baby for a while. She needs your full attention," Mrs. Lhuillier said.

"You should stay at our house for a while, Elara. I really wouldn't mind helping you with your baby. I think I would love taking care of her," Sheila suggested.

Five Years

Five years passed, and Nathara grew into a beautiful child. Her family visited often, and Mera made sure to play with her. Nathara even called Mera "Dada."

"Did you enjoy the amusement park?" Elara asked softly while brushing her hair. Nathara was squatting on the bed like a frog in her pajamas after her bath.

"Yes, Mommy! Thank you for taking me there," Nathara replied happily, lifting her head before bending down to kiss her mother.

Elara smiled as she let her daughter kiss her cheek. Nathara grew up very kind and always expressed gratitude-something Elara taught her, and which she seemed to have naturally adopted as part of her personality.

"Did you also like the princess story you watched earlier?" she asked.

Nathara covered herself. "Yes..."

"Which... only her mother?" Elara pointed out.

Nathara nodded. "And the others have fathers, but I don't."

Elara stroked her daughter's hair. "Because there are princesses without fathers, and that's normal. Sometimes things happen that we can't control, so some princesses don't have kings."

Nathara nodded again, intently listening to her mother.

"Like you. You don't have a father, but you have a mother. You're different from other children who have fathers, but remember, that doesn't mean you're alone or lacking in your life. In a castle, there might not be a king, but it's still a castle. And if there's no queen, it remains a castle because there's a king."

Nathara smiled. "I have a beautiful castle even without a king-or a father-because I have a queen, my mother."

Elara smiled and stroked her daughter's cheek. "Yes, baby. And I'll make sure your castle is beautiful, not just in appearance but in happiness. A queen can do the things a king does. If the princess wants a happy family, I will give her that happy family."

"I have a happy family, Mommy," Nathara replied happily. "I may not have a king, but a queen is enough, because I know you're the best. You make the princess happy. You make the castle beautiful. I have a happy family."

Elara felt a pang in her heart. It was hard to explain the absence of a father to her daughter, not because there was anything wrong with the child, but because some fathers couldn't stand up to their responsibilities.

"You are perfect, like a real princess, baby. You may not have a king, but that doesn't mean you're not a princess. You still are-and will always be a princess."

Nathara smiled and nodded. "I want to be a princess, Mommy."

"Oh, you're the cutest princess in the Lhuillier castle."

Nathara giggled as Elara smiled, content with how intelligent her daughter was in understanding things. She was a bright child, and in many ways, she reminded Elara of Nathan. She inherited traits from her father.

"But I'm curious, Mommy."

"Hmm?"

"What happened to my king? What happened to the queen's king?" She tilted her head and looked at Elara with curiosity.

Elara fell silent for a moment. She knew this question would come, but she didn't expect it now.

"Do you remember the wicked witch?"

Nathara nodded, her expression changing instantly.

"The King and Queen also encountered a big problem-like the witch in the stories. That's why they parted ways. As King, he didn't fulfill his duty as King to the Queen. So he left his throne."

Nathara relaxed her shoulders. "The King had no choice, because the witches were bad, and they had powers, Mommy."

Elara smiled and stroked her daughter's cheek. "Yes, that's right. And it's not the princess's fault that the King left. There are things we can't control, because sometimes, there are those more powerful than us-like witches."

Nathara pondered. "But all stories have happy endings, right? The King will fight the witch, and he'll return to the castle."

Elara smiled. "Well, that could happen too. But what if he doesn't come back? Would you be sad?"

Nathara looked silently at her mother, seemingly thinking and imagining the story they were creating.

"If the Queen is sad, I hope he comes back. Because if the Queen is sad, the princess is sad too. But if the Queen is happy without the King-like you said, there are castles ruled only by Queens-then the princess is also happy. Her family is happy because Mommy is happy."

Elara was speechless. She didn't expect her daughter's answer.

She was moved to tears. Despite all the pain Nathan had caused, despite his abandonment, she knew that finally, there was someone in her life who would never leave her-no matter what.

"The princess will stay in the castle with the queen, Mommy," Nathara said in her small voice, as if making a promise she would never break.

Her love for Nathan may not have blossomed, but somehow, she found true and unconditional love-from her princess.